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Are you looking for the best (ME) Maine trails to explore? If you love taking your ATV, dirt bike or 4X4 vehicle off road you’ve come to the right place.

Your choices for 4x4 off road adventure are more limited in this state more than ogthers. But don't despair, legal riding areas do exits!

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The key point to remember when it comes to land access in this state is "membership has its privileges."

Most of the hundreds of miles of ATV riding areas located throughout the state are located on private land and are maintained by local clubs.

The Maine Department of Conservation ATV Program
in cooperative agreements between private landowners, ATV clubs, and the Bureau's ATV Program work together to maintain Maine trails and ATV riding areas. The state association organized to represent Maine ATV clubs is
ATVMAINE.
This is a great resource to help locate ATV clubs and riding areas near you.

If you are looking for OHV driving areas for vehicles such as Jeeps or Land Rovers we suggest contacting one of the clubs listed below.

Find Your Maine Trails

Description: Aroostook Valley Trail is a 28 mile Maine trail that connects the towns of Presque Isle, Caribou, Washburn, Woodland, and New Sweden. Riders will find a gravel surface trail that is open to multiple use, year round. Scenery varies from open fields to deep woods, and meanders along many streams and the Aroostook River. Most of this trail is very remote and riders should be prepared for a back country experience.

Description: The Bangor & Aroostook Trail is a 61 mile Maine trail that is divided into two sections that link to one another in the Town of Stockholm. The first section of trail travels through the Towns of Mapleton, Washburn, and Stockholm while the second section connects the Towns of Caribou to Stockholm and then continues on to the Town of Van Buren. Riders will find a gravel surface trail that is open to multiple use, year round. Scenery varies from open fields to deep woods, and meandors along many streams. Most of this trail is very remote and riders should be prepared for a back country experience.

Description: Those seeking Maine trails with a taste of wilderness along Maine's coast will enjoy exploring the Cutler Coast Public Lands, a 12,234-acre expanse of blueberry barrens, woodlands and peatlands with 4.5 miles of headlands (interspersed by pocket coves and cobble beaches) overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Hikers can enjoy 10 miles of trails, three remote tent sites and spectacular views from the property's steep cliffs-part of the dramatic "Bold Coast" that extends from Cutler to Lubec.

Cool, damp and windy conditions along the coast tend to stunt tree growth and favor species that normally would occur in alpine and sub-alpine terrain such as Hooker's iris, bird's eye primrose and baked appleberry. Birders have recorded nearly 200 species on or near the Cutler Coast. According to www.mainebirdingtrail.com, warblers, chickadees, golden-crowned kinglets and six species of owls frequent the woods, while seabirds and ravens nest along shoreline ledges. Offshore, from early summer to early fall, visitors may spot seals, porpoises and occasional humpback, finback, northern right and minke whales.

The lands north of Route 191 have several raised coastal peatlands (also known as bogs or heaths)-a plant community not usually found south of Canada. The bogs support an array of fascinating plants, including some sub-arctic and arctic species (such as Labrador tea) and carnivorous plants (such as pitcher plants and sundew) that draw nourishment from insects-rather than the acidic water and nutrient-poor soils.

The grassland "barrens," which were traditionally kept open by burning, contain species such as blue joint grass, flat-topped aster, alder and meadowsweet and support bobolinks and savannah sparrows. Due to the presence of blue joint meadows and other exemplary natural communities such as huckleberry-crowberry bog and maritime spruce-fir-larch forest, Maine designated 5,216 acres of the property as an Ecological Reserve. The Reserve helps to maintain these representative ecosystems in their natural condition and allow for monitoring of ecological changes over time.

Description: Dead River encompasses several miles of shore on Flagstaff Lake and the first few miles of the Dead River after it leaves the lake. Visitors enjoy camping at the lake's sites, accessible by boat, and at the vehicle accessible campground at Big Eddy on the river.

Description: There is good news for Maine trail advocates. The Down East Sunrise Trail (DEST)is an inter-agency project of the Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT) and the Maine Department of Conservation. The project has rehabilitated 85 miles of the Calis Branch rail corridor for possible future rail use while at the same time providing a wide compact gravel-based trail for immediate use. The DEST is managed for use by snowmobiler s, ATV-ers, pedestrians, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, and equestrians and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Description: Located in northern Hancock County about 70 miles northeast of Bangor, the Duck Lake Unit comprises more than 27,000 acres of forested land. The unit's gently rolling terrain and many lakes, streams, and wetlands are typical of Eastern Maine.

Description: The Four Seasons Adventure Trail is a 29 mile multi-use gravel surfaced Main trail that connects the communities of Newport, Corinna, Dexter, Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft. Beginning in the Town of Newport, riders tour the countryside to experience views in two areas along the westside of Sebasticook Lake as well as points near Corinna Bog and the East Branch of the Sebasticook. The trail then meanders through the Town of Dexter leading past the northeast side of Lake Wassookeag to the Town of Dover-Foxcroft.

Description: The Kennebec Valley Trail consists of 8 miles of spectacular views that take riders along the edge of the Kennebec River from Embden through Solon to Bingham. This Maine trail includes the historic "Arnold Trail" on the Kennebec River. Riders will find a hard gravel surface on the trail that is open for year-round use.

Description: Located just west of Greenville in Piscataquis County, the Little Moose Management Unit covers more than 15,000 acres in Moosehead Junction and Big Moose townships. Although the forested land is flat to gently rolling in the southeastern quarter, the unit also includes most of the Little Moose Mountain Range with its steep slopes, rocky streams, and remote ponds. Maine trail enthusiasts also enjoy enjoy hiking, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, and camping in this remote setting.

Description: At Mt. Blue State Park you will find some of the best Maine trails for ATV riding, hiking, biking, swimming and picnicking found in the Western Mountains.

Mt. Blue State Park and the adjoining Mt. Blue/Tumbledown Public Lands offer a prime, four-season destination with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities in Maine's Western Mountains just a few hours from several major cities.

Mt. Blue State Park is Maine's largest state park, encompassing approximately 8,000 acres in two sections separated by Webb Lake. A campground in the Webb Beach section has 136 wooded sites a short walk from a sandy beach and picnic area. Visitors can swim, launch and rent boats, and walk on trails near the lake. During summer months, park staff routinely offer canoe trips, walks, and nature programs. A Nature Center features hands-on exhibits and displays.

Across the lake from the Webb Beach section is the centerpiece of the Park, 3,187-foot Mt. Blue, a popular day-hike. Visitors also enjoy walks and picnics on Center Hill (see Trails section). Mountain bikers, equestrians, and ATV riders can experience 25 miles of challenging, multi-use trails. In winter, the park's extensive trail system supports snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Families come to sled at Center Hill and skate on an outdoor ice rink at park headquarters.

Adjoining Mt. Blue State Park is more than 10,000 acres of State-owned Public Lands and State-held easements encompassing the Tumbledown Mountain Range. Tumbledown Mountain, with an alpine pond near the summit, is the most popular hike, but surrounding lands offer many other attractions.

When To Visit: Maine trail enthusiasts, anglers, and campers enjoy this region through warm-weather months, followed by snowmobile-r's, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and ice-skaters in winter.

Description: Enjoy back country recreation in a spectacular natural setting.

Maine trail enthusiasts, ATV owners, Hikers, campers, hunters, fishermen, snowmobilers and paddlers all enjoy the rugged hills, abundant wildlife and clear waters of this remote region southwest of Baxter State Park. The Nahmakanta Public Lands encompass 43,000 acres of sprawling forests and low mountains (the largest stands at 2,524 feet). Numerous streams and brooks course down steep slopes and run through narrow gorges. Within Nahmakanta's boundary lie 24 "great ponds" (10 or more acres in size) and more than 50 miles of undeveloped shoreline.

An extensive network of hiking trails leads visitors along lakeshores, up to open ledges, and past popular attractions like Tumbledown Dick Falls and Pollywog Gorge, a mile-long gorge with sheer walls that rise 180 feet. The Nahmakanta portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT) lies within the upper reaches of the 100-Mile Wilderness, considered by many to be the AT's most remote section (though not a designated "wilderness area").

During warm weather, ATV riders explore a network of shared-use roads. Fall months draw hunters in search of moose, bear, grouse and deer. In winter, snowmobiles traverse Nahmakanta Public Lands along designated trails such as ITS 85/86 (which links Millinocket and Greenville).

Within the Nahmakanta Public Lands is the State's largest Ecological Reserve, an 11,802-acre expanse that includes much of the property's 9,200-acre roadless area (known as the Debsconeag Backcountry). The State's Ecological Reserve designation ensures that sensitive plant communities will remain in their natural condition and be monitored over time.

The Nahmakanta Public Lands lie in the heart of a diverse complex of approximately 500,000 conserved acres that runs from Katahdin Iron Works in the south to Baxter State Park in the north.

Description: Located in the scenic Rangeley Lakes Region of western Maine, the 22,000-acre Richardson Unit includes 21 miles of shoreline on Richardson and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes, as well as frontage on several small ponds. Covering 1,900 acres, the Bald Mountain Unit offers views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. The big lakes and small ponds, bounded by hardwood ridges and softwood flats, attract those who enjoy Maine trails, boating, fishing, hiking, ATV's and camping in a remote setting near the mountains.

Description: With 11,000 acres of woodlands and wetlands bordering three lakes near East Machias, the Rocky Lake Public Lands provide opportunities for ATV riding, boating, camping and fishing in a wildlife-rich setting.

Description: If you are looking for Maine trails to off road your 4x4 truck, ATV, dune buggy, dirt bike then Rocky Mountain Terrain Park is the place to be.

This park offers guided Maine trail riding trips that are sure to accommodate your specific equipment and ability level. They also offer the thrill of their deep mud pit if you are brave enough or crazy enough to test the limits of yourself and your rig. They have a shallow mud pit for those who love speed and getting dirty.

The newest addition to the park is a massive rock crawling area that will give you that endorphin rush you're looking for while you test your rock crawling skills.

There are limited campsites for big campers, more for tent camping. Bring the whole family as this park is designed to be fun for all ages. There is a track set up exclusively for children 12 and under. This motocross style course is a blast for kids on their small bikes and 4 wheelers. Rocky Mountain Terrain Park also has some of Maine's finest affordable food prepared in the great outdoors with the freshest ingredients.

Description: Seboeis has 15 campsites, including ones on wooded islands with sandy beaches Maine trail enthusiasts. Six sites are accessible by vehicle (and one involves a short walk); the others require a boat. The surrounding hills are gently rolling, and the lake shoreline has an interesting mix of rocky, boulder-strewn stretches interspersed with sand beaches and secluded coves. Only a few camps (privately leased) can be seen along Seboeis Lake's 19 miles of shoreline.

Description: The Sherman to Patten multi-use Maine trail is 6 miles long and meanders through open fields, forested areas and along the perimeter of Thousand Acre Bog. Riders will find a gravel surface trail that is open to multiple use, year round. Most of this trail is very remote and riders should be prepared for a back country experience.

Description: The Houlton to Phair Junction trail is 37 miles long and extends from Houlton through the Towns of Monticello, Bridgewater, Mars Hill, and loops through the southern edge of Presque Isle. Maine trail enthusiasts will find a hard gravel surface that is occasionally shared with logging trucks; riders should be aware of other vehicles on the trail and should yield right of w

Description: Located in Aroostook County between Presque Isle and Ashland, the 16,700-acre Squapan Management Unit contains some of the most rugged terrain in this part of the state. In addition to 1400-foot-high Squapan Mountain and 9.5 miles of shoreline on Squapan Lake, it also has low hills, wetlands, brooks, and a small pond. This forested area, bordering a scenic lake, attracts Maine trail enthusiasts who enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping in a semi-remote setting. Water access campsites on the lake shore and snowmobile trails through the woods are the most popular destinations for visitors.

Description: The St. John Valley Trail takes riders 16.5 miles from Fort Kent through St. John to St. Francis. Riders tour the countryside to experience rolling hills, farmland and several miles along the edge of the St. John River. While this Maine trail is located near highways, users get a sense of remoteness. The trail is open year round for multiple use.

Description: The Jay to Farmington Trail is 14 miles in length and crosses the scenic western hills of Maine. Overall, the trail surface is gravel but mountain bikers should note that several sections consist of a sandy soil that makes biking difficult. True to the location, the western hills offer beautiful views of rolling hills with a rural farmland flavor. The trail is in close proximity to several highways and communities. This Maine trail is open year-round for multiple use.

Enjoy the trail and please remember it is multi-use; motorized users must yield to non-motorized and please demonstrate courtesy and ethics to all trail users as well as abutting landowners.

Share Your Incredible Off Road Moments With Us!

Do you have pictures of you catching some big air on your ATV or motocross dirt bike? Maybe you conquered that deep mud pit you always wanted to try in your 4x4? Did you finally “OWN” that steep rocky hill with your UTV? From fun in the sun to epic fails we want to see and hear about it! Now is your chance to share with us your incredible off road moments!

Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Submit An Off Road Park Or Trail!

Help make our Maine Trails page more complete. Submit an Maine trail or off road park not listed on this page. Please provide as much information on the form as you can and be as detailed as possible. We will even give you a mention for helping! Thank you for helping other off road adventures find the best Maine Trails!